Labour: PM should challenge white extremism too
Gerry Sutcliffe, shadow Home Office minister, reacts to David Cameron’s speech on multiculturalism:
“This debate is too important to engage in caricatures of history as David Cameron has done today. As he well knows, his so called ‘state multiculturalism’ bears no relation to Labour government policies over many years to tackle extremism.
“We have always sought to make sure all communities can live together and integrate in a meaningful way. We continue to support that vast majority in every community who reject extremism and argue against it.
“However, the prime minister’s speech comes on the day the English Defence League marches in Luton – it is unwise that he did not take the opportunity to reject extremism in all its forms, including that of the EDL.
“The home secretary and security minister have said that it is counterproductive to only engage with communities on the basis of extremism. Yet the prime minister’s speech is at risk of doing exactly that.”
